bride of the sea king

LOLA GLASS

contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

Afterthoughts

Stay in Touch

All Books by Lola Glass

About the Author

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Lola Glass

authorlolaglass.com

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.

Cover by Francesca Michelon

Dedication

To having fun with your job

Even when said fun means writing books about sexy mermen that literally no one has asked for

one

ARIA

A gust of wind blew loose grains of sand into my face, and I wrapped my arms tighter around my middle.

Shuffling forward with the line of women in front of me, I resisted the urge to rub my eyes. Again. All it did was make them sting.

The late-afternoon sky was gray, matching the mood around me. None of us wanted to be on Mug Beach in southern California, on the coldest day we’d had all winter, but when the alts commanded, there was no choice other than obeying.

Stupidly, I was wearing nothing but a sweatshirt, some thin leggings, and underwear. Most of the others were wearing coats, and I envied them for thinking ahead. I’d assumed whatever we were called in for would be over relatively quickly.

All of us were women between the ages of eighteen and forty, and we had showed up long before sunrise. Just like the official messages instructed. Failure to comply led to massive government fines that I sure as hell couldn’t afford.

As soon as we arrived, a massive crew ushered us into what must’ve been the world’s biggest line. Someone had tried to count how many of us were gathered, but she had given up somewhere around five thousand.

She hadn’t been even halfway through the group.

I had stayed in my car, regretting not bringing my coat, up until the very last minute. So, I was only six people from the back.

Which meant I had been there all day.

And I still wasn’t getting close to the front.

I had my headphones in my pocket, but the battery was dead, and I was tired of listening to music anyway. I just wanted to go home.

Another gust of sand blew into my face, and I bit back a groan.

Was this day ever going to end?

“This is ridiculous,” the woman right behind me snapped, stepping out of the line.

She immediately captured the attention of everyone nearby. It wasn’t like any of us had anything better to do.